352 



sciujsrcu. 



[Vol. VIII., No 193 



It has already been noticed that the effect of 

 fear may be of two kinds, — either exciting or 

 paralyzing. The process by which this paralyzing 

 is effected is inhibition. The spinal cord ministers 

 to the reflex acts of the organism ; the brain, to 

 the voluntary and automatic. A stimulation of 

 the higher centre may arrest the function of the 

 lower. This probably is to some extent the nor- 

 mal condition, for the reflexes of a frog are more 

 intense if the brain is removed. The will can 

 delay or inhibit reflexes. We can keep back a 

 cough or a cold. Over other reflexes the will has 

 less control. Few can refrain from winking 

 when a body is moved towards the eyes (Pliny 

 records that gladiators were tested in this way). 

 This psychic reflex is characterized by the fact that 

 its intensity depends little on the intensity of the 

 stimulus (as pain, for instance, does), but almost 

 exclusively on the individuality of the subject. 

 The person with a timid temperament is more 

 readily and intensely frightened. Women, chil- 

 dren, nervous persons, are disposed to fear. So, 

 too, animals whose only defence is a rapid flight 

 (hares, rats) are naturally timid, while aggressive 

 beasts of prey are brave. Even the momentary 

 condition, whether before or after dinner, will 

 vary the intensity of fear. There are two psychic 

 agencies which, par excellence, increase fear : 

 they are imagination and attention. The man 

 of vivid imagination who walks along a dark road 

 will have many more frights than his prosaic 

 companion. The fixation of the attention which 

 expectation causes increases the fear. The ghost 

 expected just at midnight is more terrible than an 

 unexpected visitor. The emotion of fear depends, 

 thus, on individual organization, and is not under 

 the control of the will. What the will can do is 

 to restrain the expression of the emotion. Courage 

 is power of inhibition. The soldier cannot help 

 being frightened, but he can help running away. 

 The martyr is a hero, because he can inhibit that 

 strongest of instincts, self-preservation. 



To return to the teleological point of view, it 

 may be asked to what extent the natural reflexes 

 are useful. What are the best ways of escaping 

 danger? One way is evidently by fleeing. To 

 this corresponds the exciting efiiects of fear, which 

 furnish the best conditions for speed and activity. 

 Another way is to avoid observation by restrain- 

 ing movement. This is accomplished by the 

 paralyzing effect of fear. The action is seen in 

 its highest development in the death-feigning 

 instincts of certain insects. The explanation of 

 trembling is rather difficult : it certainly seems to 

 be a hurtful action. M. Richet suggests that it is 

 the result of an attempt to arrest motion, but of 

 an attempt not entirely successful. The cry of 



fear is perhaps an attempt to startle, and thus 

 give a chance for escape. 



Lastly, what are the excitants of fear? One 

 group centres about the fear of death, of pain, and 

 of disfavor. The first is the strongest ; the second 

 is active in small affairs ; the last is of a more dis- 

 tinctively psychic nature. It is shown in stage- 

 fright, where it may be accompanied by all the 

 physical characteristics above described. Here, 

 too, belong the peculiar sensations of vertigo to 

 which some persons are subject to a pathological 

 extent. It is impossible for them to cross a plank 

 that bridges over a height. Even the bravest are 

 subject to this feeling. That it is mental in its 

 nature is shown, for example, by the fact, that, if 

 a railing be set on the plank, even if too slight to 

 be of any use in case of accident, the feeling may 

 largely subside. It acts as a moral support. 

 Another class of fears is inspired by the unfamiliar, 

 by darkness, and by solitude. What is unfamiliar 

 may be noxious. Caution is a useful trait. The 

 savage and the child typically show this dread of 

 something strange. The fear of ghosts also comes 

 in this category. Darkness doubles fear : it makes 

 things unfamiliar by preventing the use of that 

 sense by which chiefly we recognize objects. No- 

 body feels perfectly at home in a strange dark 

 room. Animals are more subject to fear at night, 

 Man is naturally a social animal. Solitude is ab- 

 normal : it makes protection impossible. This 

 feeling may become pathological : it has received 

 the name of ' agoraphobia,' or the dread of open 

 places, 



A word on the power of habit over fear, M, 

 Eichet relates how he had occasion to pass fre- 

 quently through a forest at night. He entered it 

 boldly ; but after a few steps the feeling came on, 

 and he felt highly relieved when he saw the clear 

 sky again. Each night he was able to keep up his 

 bold step for a longer and longer distance, until 

 finally the fear was almost overcome. Habit is 

 the only method of removing fear. Workmen in 

 powder-mills know they are in constant danger, 

 but have no fear. To educate a child to be brave, 

 the habit of not fearing darkness and solitude, and 

 so on, must be gradually taught. J. J. 



GEOLOGY OF LONG ISLAND. 



The current volume of Annals of the New York 

 academy of sciences contains an article on the 

 'Geology of Long Island,' by F. J. H. MerriU, 

 giving much definite and historical information. 

 Mather first described it in the State natural his- 

 tory survey, 1843 ; Upham studied its moraines, 

 in connection with those of Cape Cod, in 1879 ; 

 Lewis has at various times examined its fossil- 



